Skilled migrant category changes confirmed for August 2026  

The trades and technician pathway

One of the confirmed changes is the introduction of the Trades and Technician pathway.

This pathway is designed for migrants working in specified ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 trade and technician occupations.

To qualify under this pathway, applicants must generally:

• Work in an eligible trade or technician role 
• Hold a relevant Level 4 qualification or higher 
• Have at least four years of directly relevant post qualification work experience  
  including 1.5 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand paid at or above the Skilled Migrant Category median wage 

Immigration New Zealand has now also confirmed the list of occupations eligible for this pathway. These roles cover a wide range of technical and trade occupations across industries such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, automotive and specialist technical work.

Many of these occupations previously had limited pathways to residence under earlier Skilled Migrant Category settings.

Eligible occupation list

The Skilled Work Experience pathway 

The update also confirms how the Skilled Work Experience pathway will operate from August 2026.

This pathway applies to skilled roles that are not covered by the Trades and Technician pathway, and allows migrants to qualify for residence based on their skilled work experience.

For occupations not on the red or amber lists, applicants must:

• Work in an ANZSCO skill level 1–3 role 
• Have at least five years of directly relevant work experience including two years of skilled work experience in New Zealand earning at least 1.1 times the Skilled Migrant Category median wage 

Different requirements apply to occupations on the amber list. 

For those roles, applicants must have five years of eligible work experience in New Zealand, including two years of skilled work experience earning at least 1.2 times the median wage. 

Occupations on the red list are not eligible for the new residence pathways. 

Workers in those occupations can only qualify for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category if they meet the requirements of an existing pathway, such as earning at least 1.5 times the median wage, holding a qualifying degree, or holding recognised occupational registration. 

Red and amber occupation lists

The red and amber occupation lists were first announced in September 2025 and are designed to help manage immigration risk within the Skilled Migrant Category.

These lists determine whether a role can use the new residence pathways and whether additional requirements apply.

Immigration New Zealand has indicated that the lists will be reviewed regularly, meaning occupations may be added or removed over time.

Qualification changes

Immigration New Zealand has also clarified the qualification rules that will apply from late August 2026.

Applicants claiming points for a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification must also hold a bachelor’s degree, except for applicants claiming 5 points for a New Zealand master’s degree. Applicants claiming 6 points for a New Zealand master’s degree must have studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks and must also hold a bachelor’s degree, which can be gained in any country.

Wage-setting changes

The Government has implemented two wage-setting changes for the Skilled Migrant Category.

First, migrants only need to meet the Skilled Migrant Category median wage for their pathway when they start gaining skilled work experience, and maintain at least that rate when they apply for residence. They no longer need to meet a higher wage threshold at the point of application.

Secondly, (and this is a big one) if the median wage increased before a migrant starts work, a five month grace period can apply. If the migrant begins skilled work experience within five months of their work visa being granted, the wage threshold in effect on the day the visa was granted will be used.

Immigration New Zealand’s pay rates page also notes that the median wage used for these settings was updated to NZD $35.00 an hour on 9 March 2026.

Pay rates for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

English test validity and professional registration 

Two additional changes will take effect from late August 2026.

English language test results will be valid for five years for applicants who hold recognised occupational registration.

In addition, accountants who are able to undertake the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand and who hold membership with Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia will be recognised under the Skilled Migrant Category pathway.

Future ability to extend the Accredited Employer Work Visa 

Immigration New Zealand has also confirmed a future change allowing some migrants to extend their Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

Migrants who need up to 12 additional months of skilled work experience to meet Skilled Migrant Category requirements will be able to apply for an AEWV extension to complete that experience.

This extension option is scheduled to be introduced in 2027, with further details to be released closer to implementation.

What this means in practice  

The biggest practical takeaway is that the new pathways create more opportunities for residency, but they are still tightly defined.

Whether a migrant can use a particular pathway will depend on several factors working together, including:

• Whether the occupation appears on the relevant occupation list
• The migrant’s qualification level 
• The amount of directly relevant work experience they hold 
• The pay level during their skilled work in New Zealand 

For migrants planning a pathway to residence, it will be important to confirm that both the occupation and experience requirements align with the pathway being considered, but at the same time ensure that English requirements are able to be met  

For employers, the changes mean workforce planning conversations may increasingly involve questions about whether a role supports a realistic residence pathway for skilled workers. 

Review your situation with a licensed immigration adviser 

Immigration settings often look straightforward in policy announcements, but eligibility for residence usually depends on how the rules apply to a specific role, qualification and work history.